CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston got off to a phenomenal start to the 2015-16 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) schedule as they upended rival Bemidji State University 80-52 at Lysaker Gymnasium. The Golden Eagles had five players score in double figures led by 2015-16 NSIC Preseason Player of the Year Katrina Nordick (Sr., F, Perham, Minn./Applied Studies), who finished with 20 points and eight boards.

The Golden Eagles improved to 4-1 (1-0 NSIC) on the season with the victory. Bemidji State falls to 4-1 (0-1 NSIC) in their first conference game of the Chelsea DeVille era.

In addition to Nordick, who shot 8-of-18 from the field and added four assists on the night. Micaela Noga (So., G, Parkers Prairie, Minn./Health Management) added 15 points on 5-of-10 from the field and 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. Alexa Thielman (Sr., G, Buffalo, Minn./Health Science) also had a strong night hitting four three-pointers and adding five assists. Emily Gruber (So., F/C, Monticello, Minn./Communication) was strong inside with 11 points and 11 boards on the night. In addition, Isieoma Odor (R-Fr., F/C, Bloomington, MInn./Criminal Justice) was productive off the bench with 10 points and six boards as she continues to improve after missing most of last season due to an injury.

The Golden Eagles shot 30-of-72 for 41.7 percent from the field and were strong from outside, finishing 12-of-28 for 42.9 percent. They also were clutch from the charity stripe, going 8-of-10 for 80 percent.

Bemidji State was led by Sierra Senske, who had 14 points and four boards. Senske is the daughter of UMC Hall of Famer Steele Senske and granddaughter of former UMC men's basketball coach Gary Senske. Aimee Pelzer added 11 points and six boards.

The Beavers were 19-of-55 for 34.5 percent and were 3-of-14 for 21.4 percent from beyond the arc. They finished 11-of-14 for 78.6 percent from the charity stripe.

The Golden Eagles would have control of the game early with a 24-12 lead after the first quarter. BSU would hang with early but UMC ended the first half on a 16-5 run led by eight points from Thielman. The Golden Eagles would build the lead to have a 39-25 lead at the half. UMC was led by their two seniors at the break as Thielman had 14 and Nordick had 13.

In the second half, UMC continued their strong performance as they out-scored the Beavers 41-27 in the second half. UMC was led by nine points from Noga in the second half, while Nordick added seven and Gruber had seven points and five boards.

The Golden Eagles will hit the road next weekend as they take on University of Minnesota Duluth Dec. 4 at 6 p.m. and St. Cloud State University Dec. 5 at 4 p.m.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

Follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook at Golden Eagle Sports and on Twitter at @UMCAthletics.

The University of Minnesota Crookston is a NCAA Division II university located in the Red River Valley of Northwest Minnesota. UMC sponsors 11 intercollegiate athletic teams with membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate conference (NSIC) and the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). The NSIC is a 16-team conference with schools situated in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska.
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